Information for operators

Commercial and subsidised services
Bus services can be run on any route, to any timetable at any charge, as long as the operator has a licence and does not require a subsidy from the county council. These services are commercial services.

If there is a need for a bus service, the county council may enter into a contract with an operator to provide a service, if it has sufficient funds. The council uses a process called competitive tendering to decide upon the operator. These are subsidised services.

Operators must register all services with the Traffic Commissioner for the West Midlands Traffic Area, 56 days prior to the start of the service.

The European Framework
The European Framework is a European Union (EU) requirement relating to tender processes for transport operators.

Existing bus, coach and taxi operators tendered to become part of the framework of operators in March 2007. The county council invites members of the framework to tender or quote for contracts. This framework started in September 2007 and is valid for a period of four years. Existing operators not accepted onto the framework can reapply at the end of the four year period. New operators can only apply to join the framework at the next tender process in 2011.

Tendering process
Operators already registered on the framework will receive a list of contracts available to tender for. Operators only receive details of contracts that they expressed an interest in during their European Framework application.

Attached to this page are the results of the local bus tendering process.

Driver, escort and vehicle registration
It is a requirement for transport operators to appropriately register and obtain authorisation from the council, for any driver, escort or vehicle used on Shropshire County Council transport services.

Please find attached on this page registration forms for drivers, escorts and vehicles. Also attached is a DVLA Mandate which is required for each individual driver.

Code of conduct
Attached to this page is the ‘Operators Code of Conduct September 2006’ which applies to operators, drivers and escorts who provide transport on behalf of Shropshire County Council. All drivers and escorts must be fully aware of this code as well as all relevant legal requirements. They also must be aware of how to use the equipment in their vehicle in the case of an emergency.

Operators should give the safety of passengers and other road users the highest priority at all times.